Roberto Clemente was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he began playing baseball professionally at age 17. In 1955, Clemente signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for the next seventeen years.

—Roberto Clemente is often compared
with Willie Mays, but the Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder insists he
has developed his own style.
"Many people tell me I wanna
play like Weelie," the excitable Roberto said. "I no play like Mays.
From little boy up I always play
like thees. I always wanna run fast,
to throw long and heet far."

The Puerto Rican native, who
learned to play baseball by swatting
a tennis ball with a broomstick, is
one of the most exciting players in
the game today.

Clemente was waiting to take his
turn at batting practice at Forbes
Field Friday night when Mays
strolled by.

PLAYERS TALK

"Hiya, Chico," Mays greeted Clemente.

"I feel good," Weelie," he replied.

Someone asked Mays what he
though of Clemente. Willie grinned.
"Watta ya want me to say, man,
that he's not good? He sure is
good."

Giant manager Bill Rigney was
polled next.

"Clemente is terrific," he said.
Did Rigney think Clemente could
Willie?

"Nobody compares with Willie,"
Rigney replied.

CLEMENTE DISPLACES MAYS

Mayes came into Pittsburgh as
the National League batting leader Friday night, but a couple of
hours later he was displaced by
Clemente, whose two-out single in
the 12th gave Pittsburgh a 5-4 victory.

Sunday, Clemente scored a run
on Hal Smith's bases-loaded single
in the 11th to make Pittsburgh an
8-7 winner.

Mays got only one single in 13
times at bat during the three game
series while Clemente went 7 for
15 and now paces the majors with
an average of .382, His 34 runs-bat-
ted-in are also tops in both loops.
Clemente" was a track and Held
stars in high school, excelling in
the javelin throw, and the hop-
skip-jump event.

AIMED FOR OLYMPICS

"I only 17 when I throw javelin
185 feet," Robert said proudly. "I
was pretty fast in 440 too and I
think I make Olympics someday.
Clemente's skill with the javelin
probably accounts for one of the
best throwing arms in baseball. . .
..Against the Cardinals last week
Clemente threw from deep right
field to Dick Groat, who tagged out
Ken Boyer sliding into second.
"I just keep marvelling at Ro-
berto's great arm and his speed,"
Groat said.

Roughly translated, Clemente's
surname means clemency or mercy.
But Roberto does not show that
virtue when he is at the plate and
on the basepaths.